David Helfgott Plays Liszt

Franz Liszt (Composer), David Helfgott (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: David Helfgott
• Composer: Franz Liszt
• Audio CD (March 25, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rapcd
• ASIN: B000003S6I
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #506,700 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Funérailles, for piano (Harmonies poétiques No. 7), S.173/7 (LW A158/7)

2. Aprés une lecture du Dante II, fantasia quasi sonata, for piano (Années II/7) S. 161/7 (LW 159/7)

3. Un sospiro, for piano in D flat major (Grande études de concert No. 3), S. 144/3 (LW A118/3)

4. Ballade, for piano No. 2 (II) in B minor, S. 171 (LW A181)

5. Piano Sonata in B minor, S. 178 (LW A179)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I must agree, September 29, 2005

By 

F. Cerbasi - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Plays Mussorsgsky & Rachmaninoff (Audio CD)

Although he clearly has enough technique to play the notes there is something essential missing here. A lot of very mechanical halting playing destroys any chance of fluid phrasing. It also seems that he is frequently left hand heavy. While he may deal with certain details in a competent manner, the task becomes impossible in complex works demanding variety, decernment and taste such as Pictures At An Exhibition. Maybe if he stuck to short pieces like Grieg's lyrical pieces he might stand a better chance.

I think that a pianist ought to be able to hear these things in their playing. And be able to work hard at perfecting their touch, their craft. If not, then they certainly should not be surprised to be as critically panned as this one has.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DISGRACEFUL!!, September 1, 2005

By 

Beethoven - See all my reviews

This review is from: David Helfgott Plays Liszt (Audio CD)

David Helfgott's story is very touching. Unfortunately for Helfgott, a pianist's, or any artist's talent is determined by merit, the quality of his playing (NOT HIS STORY). Overall, Helfgott's playing is monotonous, uninteresting. His playing definitely lacks the maturity and depth a concert pianist should have. His rendition of Funerailles is sloppy and overpedaled... a gigantic mess of sound. Apres une lecture du Dante II has the same problems as Funerailles, in addition to having a ridiculously slow tempo. Un Sospiro is nice tonally, but the melodic ideas are underpronounced, which renders the recording pointless. Ballade No. 2 in B minor is a wash of sound, with little discernable melody. Lastly, the Sonata in B minor... a masterpiece in dozens of pianists' hands, from Bolet to Argerich, but not Helfgott's. His performance is choppy, and too slow. The word robotic also comes to mind here. A correct interpretation of this sonata combines poetry, sonority, and a lot of terror; here, Helfgott merely hints at them. This is one of the worst CD's I have ever heard! Helfgott is no virtuoso, and will probably remain that way. The following pianists are excellent interpreters of Liszt and many other composers, though far from complete: Horowitz, Kissin, Argerich, Arrau, Cziffra, and Bolet.

9 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Sloppy at best, October 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Plays Mussorsgsky & Rachmaninoff (Audio CD)

Perhaps he does "bring classical music to life", if by that we mean flawed and uninspiring. I do not think that anyone really disputes that this is a touching story, but as a musician and pianist, Mr.Helfgott falls well short. I recently saw him in concert, and was dismayed by his sloppy playing and poor technique. There are many other cds one should buy to hear the true beauty of this piece, and I would not recommend this one.